Kimberley trip 2015 - Manning gorge

We left the others at Bell gorge and headed towards Mornington wilderness camp. We got to the radio booth around 11am and were told they had no more spaces left. We tried to book for the others for the next day but were told they did not take bookings and they would just have to try their luck between 7am and 8am the next morning. So we left a note at the booth for the others and headed towards Charnley river station.

We got to the gate and saw it was going to cost us $20 per adult and $10 per child per night so $50 for the three of us too have the privilege of camping at their station so we decided to give it a miss and try for a free camp further on.

Malcolm had mentioned camping on the Hahn river after her had spoken to someone else at the campsite so we decided we would try for there. Suddenly we were at the Mount Barnett roadhouse the entrance to the Manning gorge. We had planned to go to Manning gorge in 2 days time for two days. We decided to push on to the Hahn river but when we got their the river was hardly even running so we back tracked to Barnett river gorge to see what that was like, again no river running so we back tracked further to Manning gorge camp ground.

It cost $20 per adult for the first night which included a pass into the gorge then it cost $12.50 per adult per night after that. Children were free. It was quite full when we arrived but we managed to find a large shaded area along the track and we set up camp. A the sun got hotter we could smell an awful smell like a decomposing animal. We found a plastic bag containing fish bait nearby and shifted that away but the smell still lingered. We persevered staying the night setting up the shower tent and having a lovely grilled chicken dinner over the camp fire but the next morning the smell started to come back.

Gaz had gone for a drive further along the track and came back all excited saying come for a drive quick! We jumped in the car and drive further down the track to find some awesome camp sites on the river bank over looking the Barnett river. It meant we would be a lot further away from the showers and toilets but it also meant we could get away from the awful smell and the sound of the camp generator which went from 6am to 9pm. So we quickly went back to the smelly site and picked up our chairs and the washing line so we could claim or spot on the river bank.

We got set up and then walked down the bank to the river under a line of trees that gave off a lovely shade. We went for a walk upstream in the river. The water was so clear and warm it was shallow most of the way with a few knee deep spots just enough to let Sam have a "swim".

We came back to camp where the afternoon sun was shaded by the awning and a nice warm breeze was blowing. We looked around and felt like we were in the middle of nowhere with no one else around. We decided we would hang out here for a bit longer, probably even 4 nights and wait for the others to catch up.
We jumped in the car and went for a drive back to the main camping area where we took a look at the swimming hole, it was awesome! Clear water with rocks in the middle and around the edges and a dinghy on a pulley system to get people across to the start of the manning gorge walk.

We then drove back up to the road house to get a few supplies, eggs, bread etc and asked about getting inn contact with Mornington to see if we could leave a message for the others. The family who run the roadside were lovely and let us use the phone to try to contact Mornington. Mornington said they did not have anyone staying in the name of Helbig or Ries so I tried Charnley river station but the phone went to message bank. So we left a note on the notice board at the road house to let the others know where we were just incase they called through earlier than expected.

They found the notes! The others made it to Charnley river station for the first night and then made their way to Manning gorge as we predicted. We were swimmingi in the swimming hole when they arrived. The ranger Glen had recognised Malcolm and Cindy's car from a photo i had shown him asking him to point them our way.

They all got set up then we all went back to the swimming hole to finish off the afternoon swimming and relaxing. Frew found a bit of rock that he was keen to chuck a rope on. We made plans to do the walk to the gorge together the next morning and then relax near the swimming hole and rock climb and swim for the afternoon. Malcolm's back was really playing up so he just stayed back at the campsite whilst the rest of us went on the walk.

It was a long hot rocky walk which was quite difficult for me going down hill over boulders but slowly and steadily I went and made it to the end of the walk to swim under the waterfall. I left too walk back a little earlier than the others so I could take my time and not hold the others up.

Gaz really enjoyed climbing with Frew, it makes met want to get back into climbing again. Sam said it was the best day ever (for the 7th time) he was loving swimming near the boat and Sandy beach.

Kimberley trip 2015 - Bells gorge

After a wonderful couple of days at Windjana we packed up early and headed towards bell gorge. We left Windjana at 8:30am and arrived at bell gorge camp ground at 10:30am. It was a beautiful drive with a couple of creek crossings and the camp site we got was the best in the whole campground. Trees for shade throughout the day and a fire pit.

We took our time setting up and then went for a drive up to the start of the gorge. We hadn't found anywhere that said how long the walk was or how hard so when we turned up with thongs on and a towel slung over our shoulder and saw that the walk to the pool was classed as a category 5 and would take approx 2 hours we realized we weren't quite prepared so drove back to camp and had a relaxing day under the trees drinking alcoholic beverages.

We got the camp fire going and Malcolm cooked damper in the camp oven. Then we got two butterfly lamb going on the grill along with potatoes roasted on the coals and a lovely salad made of beetroot, turnip, broccoli.  We then continued to get pleasantly pissed.

Had a bit of a sleep in, well at least sort of a sleep in, had eggs and coffee for breakfast then Frew set up a rock climb on some rock near the campsite.

We are heading off to the gorge after lunch to take it time walking in and having a swim before coming back and relaxing again.

Wow awesome walk and swim in Bell gorge! Pity the walk out is so warm but at least we had cold beer waiting for us at the end.

Kimberley trip 2015 - Windjana gorge and tunnel creek

We left Broome around 9:30am and made a beeline for Derby. Had a look at the prisoners boab tree just before the Gibb rd turnoff. Had pies from the Derby bakery and went out for a drive to the jetty.

Then we started what we have been working towards for the whole trip! The Gibb river road!

The turn off to Windjana was about 125km along the Gibb road and majority of the road was bitumen to the turn off. On the road to Windjana it became dirt and got a little corrugated but no where near what we have done before.

We got to the turn off for the campsite and had to self register. You need to have exact money to pay as there is no one monitoring to give change. The ranger comes around later in the evening to check passes. We got there in time to set up and watch the sunset on the Napier range. There was discussion had as to length of time we were going to stay and what walks we were going to do and when. It was decided that we would stay an extra night so we could just relax for the night then do the walk into Windjana gorge in the morning then head up the road to tunnel creek in the afternoon without having to pack up and rush through things.

While driving around trying to find a place to set up in the quiet area of the camp site, we saw a fire pit in the middle of a large open space. As we stopped near it a woman came running out from behind a tree saying you don't want to camp to close we are having a big fire tonight. The group of caravan/trailers that seemed to be surrounding the fire pit were set up miles from the actual pit taking out heaps of area where people could have set up camp. We found a different spot near our own fire pit but as soon as we left they raced out with chairs and started the fire as if to claim it for themselves.

We got set up, cooked salmon and rice for dinner and relaxed with a few wines around our fire pit.

The next morning it was great not to have to rush. But we still managed to be up by 6:30am. We watched the sunrise over the range, had breakfast and then all walked into the gorge where we got to see crocodiles galore! A very easy walk and nice to do in the cool of the morning.

We got back to camp about 10:30ish and were going to go straight to tunnel creek but people started doing things so we made lunch and relaxed in the shade for a bit then made the journey to tunnel creek about 12:30 pm. This was a really cool adventure. We had been told that the water on the tunnel was still pretty high so we dressed for this and got Sam into his swimmers but the water wasn't as high as we thought. It was great fun to explore through the pitch black tunnel wading through the murky water. A beautiful spot at the end of the tunnel to just sit and relax for a while.

We finished by 2:40pm and headed back to camp just stopping for some firewood on the way. Tonight we can just relax again and have a nice leisurely pack up tomorrow.